Judd Gregg to Commerce – John Sununu to Senate?

Looks like GOP Senator Judd Gregg will be leaving his New Hampshire Senate seat to become President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce.

Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire is the leading candidate to become President Barack Obama’s commerce secretary, an administration official said Saturday, in a decision that could come as early as Monday.

Gregg’s appointment would add another Republican to Obama’s Cabinet at a time when the president is preaching a bipartisan message and working to build GOP support for his agenda.

But it also could potentially tip the power balance in the Senate, if the Democratic governor of New Hampshire decides to name a member of his own party to take Gregg’s place.

Jim Geraghty over at National Review has the poop on who will be appointed by a Democrat governor to replace Gregg for the remaing two years of his term. And, how this may mean a return to the Senate by former and recently defeated Senator John Sununu.

My understanding is that a deal has been struck that Obama will appoint Judd Gregg and that Gov. John Lynch (a Democrat) will fill the seat with Bonnie Newman (a “Lynch Republican”) who will (most likely) commit to NOT running again in 2010, thereby leaving the seat open setting up a Lynch vs. John Sununu Senate race.

Bonnie Newman will caucus with the Republicans and will likely be reliable on many spending issues, but she is NOT a supply sider by any means and will not shy away from tax increases.

John Sununu lost his seat in the tidal wave of Obamamania – 52 to 45 per cent with 3 per cent voting Libertarian.

The seat will be competitive for the GOP to retain.

Stay tuned……